Thursday, July 21, 2011

Summer is here and I know that I’ve been searching for the perfect beach body for the last few weeks. All winter I’ve been ignoring my work-out plan and using the “cold” as a reason to stock up on tasty fattening treats. But no more. It’s time to get back in shape for the warm months! So let’s talk about a head-to-toe workout that you can do at home. I hate going to the gym I always feel just awful when I get there. So here is how to tone each part of your body so that you can get that perfect looking body in your own house with help from some home exercise equipment. Fitness is an important part of your life, or at least it should be, so try not to forget that during those months of hot chocolate, Christmas dinners and holiday parties.

When I was in high school I used to be on the crew/rowing team. When I tell people now, they come to some kind of conclusion like, “but your arms don’t look jacked.” Well my friends that is because 75% of rowing is using your legs to kick off. If you’re looking for rock hard, sexy and slim leg muscles, a rowing machine may be the perfect addition to your home gym. There are several types that have different abilities and builds. Some machines use actual water in the pull tank to give you the weight and strength you would use in an actual boat. Others use a pulley system connected to a large fan belt. Remember when purchasing a rowing machine that you will be on the floor, or close to it. This is not a good piece of equipment for older people who have issues getting off the floor. Make sure you know your limits when purchasing this equipment.

In the last few years elliptical trainers have become the “go to” machine for most gym-goers. There is still a battle though, elliptical or treadmill? Some say that the elliptical is better for your knees because you are not putting the thud pressure of running on them. I personally think that the elliptical hurts my knees more because of the range of motion it creates. But, alas the elliptical has more beneficial properties than the run of the mill treadmill. An elliptical allows you to train your endurance, legs, butt, thighs and core but also your arms and upper body. So if you want a full body cardio workout I suggest splurging for a gym-grade elliptical for your home gym.
Now that we have our cardio out of the way time to move onto strength and weight training. A home gym is perfect for the on the go gym enthusiast who just doesn’t have time to waste moving around at the gym or waiting for someone to get off the equipment. Most reputable equipment makers now sell fully loaded home gyms that are the same grade material as one that you would find at your local Bally’s or Planet Fitness. The FreeMotion Carbon Multi Gym is by far my favorite. It’s a little bit on the pricey side but totally worth the money once you realize what it can do. With a chin up bar, leg curl area, leg press and press station this gym allows you to work your entire upper and lower body. You can also mix and match pieces so that you can create the perfect home gym for you and your family.

The final thing that I like to have in my home gym is fitness balls and a free weights set. Now I know most of you go to the gym and look at the fitness balls and go “I have no clue what to do with this thing.” And just ignore it. A fitness ball is the perfect addition to a home gym. I use my fitness ball for my ab workout and leg lifts. It’s a perfect way to get me off the floor and my back doesn’t hurt as bad when I’m finished. At first I wasn’t a huge weight lifter. But, once I purchased Body-Solid Tools Vinyl Dumbbells I was on the way to becoming a body builder. Usually I take the dumbbells out on my walks with me to kill two birds with one stone. But lately I have found a few fitness DVDs that allow me to pick my weight and work at my pace.

I’m on my way to my perfect beach body. Summer is here and it’s time to get off my butt and start working out.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The Nursing Profession and Nursing Scrubs
You may remember that it was recently Nurse's Week 2011, so you are not unfamiliar with my chosen profession as a nurse. I like to do product reviews and product analysis, especially having to do with my profession and related to my everyday life. I have always been fascinated by things that seem so simple but in actuality are very complex and serve a specific purpose. Nursing scrubs seem to be simple articles of clothing, but in actuality they are designed specifically to be antimicrobial and deter the passage of germs into hospitals. Hospital scrubs and uniforms were publicized for promoting hygiene and cleanliness. Before that, surgeons and medical professionals performed surgeries and other formalities in the operating room wearing their regular clothes, not to mention without cleaning them, or their hands for that matter.

Early in the 19th Century, professional and other forms of nurses wore what looked like an old servant’s uniform. You know the one's I'm talking about, with an apron and a long dress or skirt and a white bonnet cap. Up until later in the 19th century, the nursing profession was not organized and most nurses worked in either wealthy homes or just out of the kindness of their hearts. There were no schools, no formal training and no organization. Towards the end of the 1800s (Crimean War-era), Florence Nightingale’s hard labor had transformed the nursing occupation into a more reputable profession. Professional or registered nurses had to be separated from the rest of the women helping out; they were required to have distinct uniforms to differentiate them from common, unregistered or untrained women who volunteered their services to the army or in the few hospitals. Now we have schools, standards and professional clothing. People working in the medical domain, especially as nurses, have to wear hospital scrubs during their entire professional lives.

My Favorite Scrubs
My favorite brand of hospital scrubs happens to be Dickies scrubs. The company is actually called "Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company." They have an interesting history. Apparently, C.N. Williamson and E.E. "Colonel" Dickie began their ventures in the business world in the great state of Texas in 1918. They worked in the automotive industry until 1922, when they bought out an overall clothing company and renamed it to Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company. They stuck to "working-man" clothing up until the nursing industry started booming. Soon thereafter, Dickies scrubs were born!

Scrubs from Dickies are very durable and can be found pretty much anywhere. There was a time, recently, that they stopped manufacturing them and they went off the market. They are back! I prefer to wear them because they are manufactured specifically for working nurses. That sounds awkward, but it makes sense; they were known to primarily manufacture clothing for people like construction workers, mechanics and the like. They know that the nursing profession is not all fun and games, it gets dirty. Dickies scrubs are some of the most long-lasting scrubs I've had, which is why I prefer them; I get my money's worth!

Benefits Of Dickies Scrubs
I'm not too worried about my Dickies scrubs when I'm working, I don't worry about them getting dirty and allow me to concentrate on what I am doing. I can increase the number of new uniforms I can afford because Dickies scrubs, for the most part, are cheap scrubs. Not material-wise, price-wise, so you get to buy more uniforms compared to the expensive ones. I like their plain take on scrubs. I will admit, when I worked at the children's clinic, I bought the flashy scrubs with cartoon characters on them. Now I like to look much more professional, nothing flashy for me. Although, Dickies does offer those kinds of scrubs. I can extend the life of my hospital uniforms because Dickies are manufactured to last in the first place.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

The Oak Forest Hospital will start making cutbacks today in an effort to save some money before they eventually close the facility.
“Right now, we don’t know if my mother has a doctor or not after today,” Joyce Edmond, who lives in Dolton with her mother, said. “She has a very rare form of cancer (myelodysplastic syndrome). Her bone marrow doesn't produce blood. She needs these transfusions to stay alive.“And she needs a doctor to write her a prescription for medicine that costs $5,000 a month if we had to pay for it. My mother doesn't have insurance. And she is in no condition to make the trip to Stroger Hospital.”

This is just one compelling story from the Chicago Sun Times report that brings to light an all too common situation the hospital closing has created. The article states that Cook County has implored Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board to close the facility on June 1st, but the County denied that motion until future plans had been reviewed.

The Chicago Tribune reports that "the intensive care unit and acute rehabilitation department will be suspended and emergency room care streamlined. Of the 20 patients remaining in the hospital’s 213 beds, eight will be discharged or relocated to other facilities by the end of the week, sources said. The others, including four long-term care and six ventilator-dependent patients, will remain at Oak Forest."

How can you just turn away patients? Employees are going to be thrown out in their nursing scrubs and patients relocated or discharged? Seems a bit ridiculous. And to top it all off, the Board President Toni Preckwinkle tried to blame the County board memebers and administration for the closure, not the mismanagment of funds. The Chicago way, just blame someone else!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

It’s evident that the cold winter months are finally behind us, but just because the risk of frostbite has gone down, doesn’t mean you should disregard the idea of healthy skin. Keep in mind that natural skin care should be practiced year-round, from those chilly autumn afternoons to those cold winter nights and, yes, even throughout those festive spring and summer days.

Okey dokie, well, you may think to yourself “I’ve only missed a few days worth of proper skincare, what’s the worst that can happen?” Well, the answer depends. It depends on things such as what skin type you have, what you do, and when and where you do it.

Skin Type
This is a vital aspect of skin health do to the fact that not everyone’s is the same. Some folks have oily skin whereas others have dry skin; some have sensitive skin, while there are those that have a combination of sorts. First thing you should know is what your skin type is. It’s important because if you use a product that isn’t meant for your type of skin, it may lead to skin irritation. Once you know your skin type, then you are able to buy skin cleanser and lotion in accordance with your desired treatment.

Furthermore, you will be able to choose skin care products with a lot more easy. If you wish, you can exfoliate in the manner which will have the greatest benefit to your skin. Afterwards, you can apply moisturizer so as not to suffer from dryness. Be wary though, if you suffer from acne, you may want to consider seeking a proper acne treatment program.

What, When, Where
The three W’s, all equally important to the state of your skin, they define your style of skin management and if there is any room for improvement.

Let’s take two people: A smoker and a jogger.

Smoker

It’s noon, it’s summer, she’s outside smoking her second cigarette of the day and, because of city ordinances, she does so outside, under the scorching sun.

Jogger

Again, it’s high noon, and because it’s such a nice day, she’s not going to the gym, she’s going straight to the park, despite the smoldering sun rays.

That’s all the information we are going to need to make a brief assessment of skin care. First off, let’s talk about the smoking aspect of the 1st individual. Don’t smoke if you want healthy skin. Smoking makes does not help the aging process. In addition, smoking contributes to wrinkles. How does this happen you ask? It’s a series of events. In short, it involves decreased blood flow which lowers the amount of oxygen and nutrients for your skin. Also, the smoker is enjoying her cigarette in the good ol’ outdoors. The problem is that it’s summer. The sun is at its brightest, and if she doesn’t choose to smoke in the shade she may suffer sun burn.

Ok, now let’s look at the jogger. She’s exercising, which is always great because exercising brings more oxygen and nutrients to the skin so that it looks firmer and better nourished, it’s kind of an anti-aging treatment. However, she is in the wide open air. The sun, just like the smoker, is beaming down on her with fury. In addition, because she is exposed to certain forms of wild life, she may have to be careful in order to avoid any allergic reactions that may lead to skin irritation and skin rash

For any instance, if you do find yourself outside in the middle of a sunny day, don’t feel shy to use sunscreen.

Well guys, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Unfortunately I can’t fit it all on here. But before I do wrap it up, I wanted to mention acne just for a wee second. There are a lot folks that do suffer from it, and it’s dependent on what you eat and do, among other natural causes. Be wary of the type of food you eat because it may contribute to your acne condition. When I say, it’s dependent on what you do, all I mean is be careful of what comes in contact with your face. For example, if you’re working on your car and get dirt and oil all over your hands, don’t scratch the itch on your forehead with your bare hands. Bacteria may make its way over and before you know it, your skin will react with acne later on.

There you have it folks, a little insight into skin care. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s just a snippet of the things you should look out for when managing skin health.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Now, many of us have been in the hospital for one reason or another. For many, it’s scary and can be viewed as a place of death and illness. I beg to differ, folks. I see it as a place of healing and, in many instances, life. What many do not take notice of are the factors that make such a positive outlook possible, the inner workings if you will. Sure there are the doctors, surgeons, and even the medications that contribute to your health, but how many times have you stopped to take time to appreciate nurses?

There is an entire week dedicated to the nursing profession, and why not? They tend to our sick and disabled. Without them, the negative perception of a hospital would be all too real. Nurses Week begins on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Who is Florence Nightingale? She is the individual who founded nursing as a modern profession. She did so after encountering that the sanitary conditions of military hospitals were unacceptable. Thereafter she appealed to reform not only military hospitals but health care centers in general. By improving sanitation, she was able to reduce the death rate dramatically. Afterward, she founded and taught within the first secular nursing school in the world.

The reason I talk about nurse appreciation on a blog that focuses on becoming healthier is because it wouldn’t be possible to become healthier without the care and attention of a highly-trained skilled professional such as a nurse. Sure, they wear nursing scrubs, but they know just as much as the doctor does and the doctor usually relies on the nurse for prepping the patient and knowing exactly what to do. What you’ll find is that they not only help us become healthier but also help us to stay healthy through informative as well as educational information about better living: they teach us, all the while healing us. Take part in this national celebration and applaud any nurses you may know. Remember folks, nurses don’t stop once they’ve inserted the IV. You can ask any nurse’s patient, coworkers, even the organization that employs them, it’s about more than the job and title, it’s about people. Before I wrap things up, I’m sure many of you’ve heard the old say “Don’t forget to tip your waitress”, well I say “Don’t forget to appreciate your nurses.”

The flowers are blooming, the grass is greener and the sun is shining. Spring is here, breathe it in. Wait, what’s that? You have a stuffy nose, watery eyes, and you’re breaking out in hives?! Alas, with better outdoor weather you have to face those dreaded seasonal allergies. In addition to using allergy medications, follow these simple tips to help counteract the effects of allergies this season.

During the spring, plants, flowers, and trees begin their pollination cycle and they do so through air travel. What you may not realize is that when you are out enjoying the day, you walk right through these large amounts of pollen that tend to float about in the air. And unlike getting a cold during the winter, allergies won’t go away with a few days rest. Depending where you live, it can be a cycle that goes on for upwards of half a year.

Before you declare your struggle with allergies to be a futile effort, I can shed some advice that may help you with your fight and will help make sure you have a healthy spring.

First and foremost, the earlier you treat allergies, the better. Reason being, allergy season starts earlier than when most people believe, sometimes arriving as early as mid-February, do to early pollination cycles. When an individual experiences allergies they may feel an inflammatory sensation. The earlier you try to prevent it, the better it’d feel in the long run. Let’s use this analogy, would you rather put out the match, when it’s still a match, or would you wait until it’s a bonfire?

Control your environment accordingly. If you feel the need to go outside for work and/or play, make sure that you take your allergy medicine before doing so. Or if you want to get straight to business and work on the garden, mow the lawn, or rake leaves, you may want to consider wearing a protective face mask in order to prevent or reduce your allergies.

Be well acquainted with you’re over the counter allergy medication, multiple ones, even. This is important because a single medication may not do the job. For example if you are using one type of medication, the effect of said agent may wear off. Or depending on the effectiveness of certain medications, you may want to adjust in order to find the most comfortable outcome.

Ultimately, if it appears as if your allergy symptoms are not getting any better, you may want to consider receiving allergy shots. These shots introduce small amounts of an allergen into you immune system, as to create and strengthen your level of tolerance. Overtime, you may find that your vulnerability towards such allergens have either diminished or have disappeared.

Now that the weather outside is warmer, I really hope that everyone enjoys themselves and treats their allergies to the best of their abilities. Now go out and have fun!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Let’s say you’re at the mall, just browsing around. Then you realize you need lotion so you go to a cosmetics store and tell the salesman your situation. He then reaches behind the counter, hands you a bowling ball and says “Use it on your face, it’ll help”, you might just take offense. Now, take that bowling ball, make it smaller, a bit hairier, what do you have? A coconut. Take the same claim the gentleman had made earlier and you might just think to yourself it actually makes sense, and rightfully so.

What you’ll find is that the benefits are numerous in number. The things that I’ve experienced thus far are amazing. I’ll just give you all little glimpse of what I’m talking about.

Coconut oil: You may have heard coconut oil and coconut butter used interchangeably, many of the attributes that the oil contains is also present in its butter counterpart. Here are a few of my favorite advantages:

Hair Care

Coconut oil has been proven to be one of the best natural nutrition remedies for hair. It not only supplies a means for a shiny complexion but also as a natural shampoo and conditioner, providing essential vitamins for hair maintenance. In addition, if you’re looking for dandruff treatment, you’re in luck because coconut oil does that too!

Skin Care

It acts as excellent massage oil for those times when you need to relax and unwind. In addition, it can restore a healthy tone to skin by using coconut oil as a nourishing moisturizer for dry skin. If this interests you, then you might think about going a step further and include it as a part of your bath products collection i.e. coconut soap. Yes, they also act as natural soap, too!

Weight Loss

Coconut oil has proven to be very useful in reducing weight. It contains short and medium chain fatty acids, it’s easy to digest and helps increase metabolism by burning through more energy by relieving stress from the pancreases. If you don’t believe me, look at folks from tropical coastal areas who consume coconut oil regularly.

Others:

Coconut vinegar: For all my health food enthusiast friends, because it comes from a source that’s naturally higher in minerals and phytonutrients, coconut vinegar would make a great substitute for apple cider vinegar. It’s high in potassium and it helps the digestion process

Coconut nectar: Naturally contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other nutrients including Vitamin C. It can also be used as a healthy alternative to sweetener.

Edibles

Coconut water

Nothing says comfort more than sipping on a coconut. Coconut water is the clear liquid found inside a young coconut. Coconut water has long been a popular drink in the tropics. The benefits of coconut water include but are not limited to:

Being 99% fat free with no cholesterol

Helps boost immune systems

Helps balance PH and reduce risk of cancer

Helps raise metabolism

Coconut milk

This is a personal favorite of mine. Reason being, it proves that there are several uses of coconut. Vegans can utilize the virgin coconut oil extracted from the residue left over from the coconut milk. Coconut milk can also be used in modern medicine with a wide range of health benefits. With the use of coconut milk you can

Boost energy and endurance

Help prevent tooth decay

Use it as a protective antioxidant

Prevent wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots

Help prevent liver disease

There you have it folks, the coconut in a nut shell. Now that you know there are multiple uses for the coconut, go out there and enjoy it in any manner you deem fit. Enjoy!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Here’s a scenario for you: It’s 2 o’clock in the morning, and you have to be up by 6 a.m. for work, but, once again, you just can’t doze off. You already know it’s going to be a long day. You twist and you turn and there’s no point in counting sheep and you know it’s not insomnia. It’s back ache: an ache that’s been persisting for hours now, and has become so intense that it’s even preventing you from catching those Z’s.

Let’s Talk Back Pain
Although it may seem that you are the only person that can relate to any kind of pain, do not feel excluded just yet. About 80% of Americans are afflicted by severe back aches. The causes of back pain vary but before we dive into the whys and how’s, I wanted to touch on what it may mean to you.

With 80% of all Americans going through the same thing, the scenario above is absolutely possible. As mentioned above, it can not only ruin your day but even a lifestyle. Surprisingly, back problems may affect your day to day activities, from work to quality time with family, and can even influence your mental state.

Possible Causes
Now that you’ve gotten a glimpse into what you have at risk, let’s discuss back pain causes.

First off, stress. Merely stressing out will increase the likelihood of muscle spasms, which is a direct cause of back spasms, and what’s more, stressing about back pain can perpetuate the aching.

Another source of chronic back pain comes from sustained injuries. Remember when you fell off that chair a few months back, or when you flew off your bike last summer, or when you were tackled by that linebacker last season? Although you don’t, your body does. Spine injuries such as sprains and fractures can lead to short term or chronic back pain.

There are also several acquired conditions that lead to back problems. They include:

Scoliosis

Spondylolisthesis

Various forms of arthritis

Spinal stenosis

Back Pain Treatment
The following are a few key methods in reducing, if not eliminating, back aches.

Most basic of all back pain remedies is certainly a vital one: REST. Sit or sleep in the most comfortable position you can find. As the pain begins to subside, take short walks in order to exercise your limits, but always be wary about exceeding those limits. Simple tasks such as walking to the fridge for a drink can prove to be arduous, so avoid it at first.

Although I don’t like the idea of people using excessive meds, certain pain medication has been proven to relieve back pain.

Over the counter pain killers such as Tylenol, aspirin, or Ibuprofen have a positive effect against an aching back.

If need be, your doctor may be able to prescribe prescription strength pain medicines or even a combination of medications.

Your doctor may even prescribe muscle relaxants.

You should note that these medications have an effect on the brain, not muscles, and can often lead drowsiness and dependency.

Another method of relief for back pain comes in the form chiropractors. Spinal manipulations by chiropractors and osteopaths have been proven to be effective for acute low-back pain. Early chiropractic adjustments for acute back pain may actually prevent chronic problems from developing.

One way to treat back pain, that often gets overlook, is utilizing forms of back pain relief even before any actual back pain symptoms appear. I’d like to shed insight in back pain exercises that I have come across.

First off, I’m sure many of you have heard lift with your legs not your back. Not only are your legs much stronger, but if you use your back, you increase your chances of spraining the muscles located in that region.

Beginner Level exercises

Ankle pumps

Heel slides

Wall squats

Intermediate Level exercises

Single knee to chest stretch

Hamstring Stretch

Sitting on exercise ball

Advanced Level exercises

Hip Flexor stretch

Lumbar stabilization exercise with exercise ball

Good old aerobic exercises

Well, there you have it, my two cents on treating back pain. Remember, you definitely need to be vigilant in what you’re doing and make sure you’re doing it correctly. Be mindful of your limits and remember not to greatly exceed a safe level of comfort. I hope this has been helpful, good luck!

Friday, April 22, 2011

It's important to start this Spring off right. After reading over my spring health tips you should be wandering, what foods do I eat to keep healthy this spring? Visit your local farmer's market. If you have a farmers market, check it out for fresh produce. Around this time of year and depending on your region, it will include foods like asparagus, artichokes, carrots, collards, fennel and various other greens and grains. Using a few of these in every recipe will greatly enhance your health this Spring. I've compiled a nice list for you to follow.

Asparagus contains no sodium, cholesterol or fat making it an extremely healthy spring food option. It is also high in folic acid, which aids red blood cells in spreading oxygen throughout your body. All these great side effects keep your body and mind energized.

Broccoli is a great source of Vitamin C, believe it or not. That's not only good for your immune system, it's good for absorbing calcium which keeps your bones strong. It also contains nutrients that have been found to prevent tumor growth, which is a huge plus!

Spinach is an excellent source of iron. Iron is used by hemoglobin which is in red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of your body; iron helps keep your body supplied with blood rich in oxygen.

Spring FruitsSpring fruits are a great addition to jazz up any normal salad or marinade, get creative! Not only do they taste sweet and delicious, but they also carry great benefit for your health.

Apricots are a great example of a spring fruit because they naturally contain beta carotene, which is a powerful antioxidant that can reduce bad cholesterol levels, prevent heart disease and protect against cancer.

Strawberries are a great source of Vitamin C. Usually eating around 5 good-sized strawberries can give your body its full dose of Vitamin C for the day, and it will usually only contain around 25-40 calories.

Mangoes are not only delicious by themselves or in salads, they also contain phenols that act as antioxidants and can sometimes act as anti-cancers.

Pineapples are a sweet fruit perfect for lunch or as a quick snack. They are especially good for your body because they contain high levels of manganese. Manganese assists the body in the formation of connective tissue and bones. It can also help with certain blood-clotting processes. It also plays a role in your body's fat and carbohydrate metabolism.

Spring is finally upon us. It is time for the flowers to start growing, grass to get green again and for everyone to get outdoors after the cold winter. The winter can cause us to not eat right and to not exercise as much as we would during summer months. Here are some Spring exercise tips and Spring fitness tips to use when the weather finally get nicer and you can spend time outdoors.

Get Out More

It's important to take advantage of better weather. Go biking. If you have a bike path, you can use it to ride your bike for exercise. Go hiking. If you have a landscape ideal for hiking, utilize it! Go running or walking. You can use the same bike path for running, which is a great Spring exercise. You can also simply go on a walk around your neighborhood. Point is, the sunshine you receive from being outside will in a sense, wake your body up from the long winter.

Watch Holiday Eating

Easter and Passover are both Spring holidays. We have to watch excessive eating. It is important to not gorge as this can result in unwanted weight gain right before the summer months, which nobody wants. Eat fruit instead of sweets or chocolate; some chocolate can be high in unwanted fat. Take more veggies with your meals instead of foods high in unwanted calories.

Watch For Allergies

Here's some tips for preventing spring allergies. Check pollen levels in your area. You can look at Weather.com's Pollen Forecast tool or simply watch your local news as they should mention when there is high pollen levels. Invest in some allergy medicine or get an allergy shot for the occasional spring allergy.

Staying healthy this spring isn't difficult, you just have to be diligent. You have to pay attention to what you are eating and make sure you exercise. Good luck!